NCJ Number
124672
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 58 Issue: 6 Dated: (June 1990) Pages: 58-60
Editor(s)
C E Higginbotham
Date Published
1990
Length
3 pages
Annotation
During the 100th Congress (1987-1988), both the U.S. Congress and the House of Representatives passed legislation prohibiting most polygraph tests by private employers, a measure that was opposed by law enforcement groups and supported by labor groups.
Abstract
Employers cannot screen job applicants, make random checks of employee honesty, or discipline workers for refusing to take a polygraph test or answering questions related to religion, sex, political beliefs, or attitudes toward labor unions. At the time of passage, the Congressional sponsors disavowed any intention to expand private prohibitions to include law enforcement. A strong program of quality control employed by law enforcement agencies will ensure the accuracy of every polygraph examination to the fullest possible extent. Quality control reviews consist of an analysis of test question construction and selection, technique, and operational procedures; provide an accuracy check and guard against examiner "contamination;" and offer on-site monitoring and examination critiques. The American Association of Police Polygraphists (AAPP) will offer a mail-in quality control program for agencies unable to afford in-house programs. Two trained professionals will provide the technical expertise for the program by evaluating polygraph charts and providing feedback for practicing examiners. A strong quality control program ensures the examiner's integrity, protects the examinee's rights, and validates the polygraph as an investigative tool. 2 notes.